advice from the experts needed!!

[spitfire3416]

Hi all, I just created an account here and looking for some advice. So I'm 24 and have decided I want to start my own club. Now I have no schooling or experience in this field of work, but I just got a job as a bartender and am really serious about the idea. Theres a couple of questions I'm asking myself though. Should I go to school for some kind of business or restaurant management education? What should I expect for total start up costs? I have almost 40k saved now and am unsure of how close I am to any expectations of it working financially. Being my own boss is a very attractive career choice for me and always has been. I'm aware of the amount of work it takes to get it going, but what's exactly involved in that work is what I'm unsure of. I really appreciate any advice or feedback I can get. Thanks in advance.

[owneroper]

how do you like working at the bar? I would work there a while to make sure its something I want to do. Have a couple of bad nights and see how you really feel. While your working take note of all things involved in the bar business, the liquor, the glasses, the bathrooms right down to the scrap paper you write on. Ask yourself how all this gets done and ask your manager.

The cost would depend on where you are located and what type of bar your wanting to open, read thru the boards and you can see how the prices vary. There are also some step by step posts on people opening a bar.

[intensity]

Try to learn every job at your current location. Hands on experience is better then any degree. However, there are plenty of things you can learn in school, from accounting to business ethics to management skills, etc.

The fact that you have and can save 40k says you already have the correct mentality. Start-up costs can vary hugely depending on where your at and the size and scope of the place you are thinking of doing.

Don't put the cart before the horse. Just because your excited about it now don't go throw your money in with someone thinking you can make things happen fast. Patience is key. Learn your current job, learn every job around you, take your time. Maybe work at a couple places and pick people's brains...owners, managers, etc.

Get some experience, make contacts, research the area, save more money and then jump in with both feet.

[spitfire3416]

Well I'm planning on doing it somewhere in the tri-state area.. I'm located central jersey right now. Nothing huge to start out. Just big enough to cram in about 100 people and book bands to play through out the week. I'm wanting to go the hands on experience route and just take as much notes as I can like you guys said, but how important is the accounting and business ethics side of it? Could I do just as well reading a ton of books? I do like working behind the bar. I find it to be a hell of alot more exciting than sitting behind a desk 40 hours a week.

[nwc]

I have to fourth owneroper and intensity's advice, and say doubly, learn every aspect of every job in the bar. If you have a good relationship with your manager, tell him/her that you someday want to own a bar of your own and want to learn every aspect of the business. This means everything from dishwashing, barbacking, and serving to ordering, planning, inventory, cost price analysis, promotions, working with vendors, advertising, the cleaning service... you know the list. Certainly some basic business courses could benefit you, but so can assisting the owner/manager with some of the more business-oriented jobs... It's a lot and many managers will appreciate being able to train someone to take over some of the load. If you plan to open in the same area, realize that you may one day be their competitor and understand if there are certain aspects they wish to keep secret.

Working in the industry will give you valuable insight if you plan on locating your bar in the same area. Notice everything from costs, prices, which vendors are trustworthy. Learn all the wierd liquor laws in your area (or rejoice if you live in a area with sane liquor laws). Get to know the other bar owners in the area and notice the areas they cooperate and the things they keep secret from each other. Pay attention to your bar's relationship with the local police, city government and liquor control board. Get to know these people as well and show them you are dedicated, law-abiding and honest. Pay attention to any palm-greasing or politics at play... you may decide not to be part of it if your enforcement agencies are on the take. Being well-known and liked among these agencies can do wonders at the permitting and licensing stages. Find out that the rent is for your current bar and start researching rents in the area.

It is absolutely essential you research your market and find your niche. Remember, build the perfect bar for you, and you'll be the only one who ever goes there. Keep track of which patrons you enjoy being around and which ones you avoid. What can you do to attract the people you like? Can they spend enough money to keep you going? What music brings people you want to attract in? Don't guess, but really pay attention to it. It is a major component of your bar's personality. Can you stand to listen to it every night? Is it loud rock, or quiet jazz?

And GO SLOW. Learn everything first and listen to what your research tells you, you'll most likely do fine. If your research indicates that the type of bar you want to open just won't fly, don't try to force it into the market anyway. The best part is that people will tell you exactly what is wrong with the current bar scene and what is working. Talk to them while you're pouring drinks. Play the "I'm a bartender here, but I like going out and doing cool stuff on my night off." Where else do they go? Ask them what sucks about the current bar scene. Check it out for yourself.

Is there a trend to bars in your area? Are people excited about it, or are they saying, "I wish that old place was still there." That could tell you whether your area is open to change, or maybe a bar bucking the trend is a good idea. It's your call, it's your hunch, it's your assets when you roll the dice and lay your money down... so make absolutely certain to do your research and hedge the bet in your favor. Your first bar, or two or three, may just be the steps to opening the bar you really want. Accept it.

Make absolutely certain you enjoy busily working night after night while your friends and customers sit around and enjoy themselves. Personally, I was always a social-director and enjoyed being behind the scenes working my ass off to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves. That's how I spent nearly every party in college and I loved it. If you like being the center of attention and the life of the party, you might find owning a bar and not being part of the party around you just isn't fun.

And that's what it's all about... Finding a job that you enjoy.

[intensity]

, but how important is the accounting and business ethics side of it? Could I do just as well reading a ton of books?

Probably. This is a hard thing to say because noone here knows your aptitude. Some people have to be taught in school or they don't know anything, other people pick things up on their own. Anything can be learned on your own if you have the discipline and smarts. We have all heard the stories about the millionare business owners that never graduated high school.

[owneroper]

not sure what you mean by business ethics but the accounting is fairly easy to me but I only have a couple of small neighborhood bars. I have an accountant who does my taxes, I send monthly paperwork, all reicepts, invoices, daily register tapes, payroll etc He files my taxes but even some of this I could do. He sends the tax papers back I sign and send a check. I have started making copies of everything he sends me trying to figure how this tax stuff works, for my own benefit. And it doesnt seem that hard, I have no accounting/math background. If your really interested you could probably take a small business accounting class to help but I think this is such a small part of owning a bar and by no means the hardest part

[spitfire3416]

Probably. This is a hard thing to say because noone here knows your aptitude. Some people have to be taught in school or they don't know anything, other people pick things up on their own. Anything can be learned on your own if you have the discipline and smarts. We have all heard the stories about the millionare business owners that never graduated high school.

i wouldn't say i'm the brightest apple on the tree but i'm no dope either. i always thought the main thing of owning a business was having capital and good credit maybe. i know it takes smarts and dedication and all that also, but the money aspect has always been my biggest concern.